Expect Two New Taxes on MI Property

Interestingly, they are gonna call one a "user fee" and the other a "tax assessment". And its not to benefit you! (no surprise there)

Once upon a time, there was something called “the consent of the governed.” That was a time when our politicians heard the voices of the people, and they acted accordingly.

Today, it’s the following: “Now that WE have the majority in both chambers, let’s shove through every giveaway we can to solidify those votes!”

Do you doubt this? Just look at the Michigan legislation costing billions and having almost no support from the other party out of power:

• Businesses and an Air Force base were given billions to “create or retain jobs.

• Red flag laws contrary to your right to a hearing before the removal of property.

• Abortion “reform” that weakens or eliminates clinic licensing regulations, informed consent provisions, partial-birth abortion ban, born-alive infant protection law, humane disposal of fetal remains, abortion reporting, and more.

• Pension “reform” to allow government workers, prison employees, teachers, and others to receive retirement benefits AND return to work for ongoing work payments.

• Tax exclusions for only certain pensioners.

• Five years of free college under the Michigan Access Network.

• Refusing the allow this year’s income tax reduction to continue, as provided in current law.

• And much more.

Now, we have two new tax packages coming very soon —(1) having everyone pay more for water to provide it at low or no cost to others, and (2) having counties outside of Detroit pay for their museums.

• People forget who pays for all the "free" things handed out by our governments.

• Many do not know about the free housing, medical services, and $2,200 per month now given to undocumented persons from Mexico. Some still don't realize these people are relocated at no charge to places like Oakland County to live on your dime.

• Still, others do not know about the expansion of Medicaid in Michigan or the handing out of housing vouchers, Bridge Cards, and dental services for those who report limited or no income.

But I'm sure you are aware who pays for all of this – you do.

Those who work or earn and faithfully report their income are expected to pay for everything in our state and country through our taxes. (That is, except for the $1.7 trillion the U.S. Congress borrows on our country's credit card each year).

In any case, the gravy train never seems to end. One "great idea" for "helping people" leads to the next one and the next one. What’s next?

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FIRST, a package of bills sponsored by Democrat Senator Stephanie Chang (District 3) is being pushed to eliminate water bills for households earning up to 200% of the Federal poverty level. To cover the cost, an “assessment” will be included in your water bills (she is carefully avoiding the word “tax”).

We Should Help Those in Need

It's one thing to help people temporarily until they get on their feet. Not many oppose charity assistance to those who cannot provide for themselves. But a lifetime of "free stuff" for those who can work and support themselves does nothing good. One report calculates that the value of all the "free stuff" is $40-50 thousand or more each year. Those who are disabled may also have SSI or disability benefits or veteran's or worker's comp benefits to assist them.

Will it ever end? That's not likely. It is only getting bigger and bigger under the current political leadership. Here are two other new things that just popped up this month.

Granting New Human Rights

In August, Governor Gretchen Witmer bragged in an email that the State of Michigan will now pay to provide "free" breakfast and lunch for all 1,400,000 public school students across the state. This billion-dollar program is expected to save families at least $850 per child annually. She also said this would save parents "valuable time" every morning. How?

In the past, parents would have been expected to endure the grueling work of preparing and serving a healthy meal and actually sit or speak with their child during that "hectic" time (Gretchen's words!) before leaving for school. What a deal. Thanks, Gretch. The politicians in Lansing now forever grew the Michigan budget by a billion dollars annually.

Not a day later, I learned our government "leaders" from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG.org) met in a Community Water Legislation Forum to get everyone on the same page after working for several years to make this happen.

The Community Water Legislation forum aims to discuss issues around "water affordability" and "income-based water bills." They want to propose new laws that will require you to pay more! What a deal. Free water, too!

It is called the Human Right to Water Act (Senate Bill 25 and several other bills soon to be introduced!) The bills not only reduce or eliminate water charges but provide forgiveness for bills already unpaid and up to $2,500 per household to pay for leak or service issues! They also revised the water shutoff laws.

The package of bills will add “user fees” to the billing for each water meter. The bill will be based on the size of the property, particularly the portion that results in stormwater entering the drainage system. The money will be collected by the water utility but transferred to the State of Michigan for redistribution to “deserving” residents.

Can you imagine the bureaucracy they will need to assess and collect these funds? Engineers are needed to assess the properties. Billing systems will need updating. People who want free or discounted water will have to apply and be verified for their income. Collected funds will have to be accounted for and allocated. Water shutoff notices for the rest of us who are expected to pay for everything will have to be sent and followed up.

Will It Ever End?

Stop and think about what "water affordability" means. YOU will pay more so someone else can pay less or nothing at all. Any incentives to preserve or reduce water usage will be gone if users aren't charged for water usage. Also, the pressure on politicians to run the water department efficiently and keep the cost of water bills down for everyone will decline. And we know the people who run our water systems are not held accountable for results (remember Flint?).

Some feel water is a "human right," just like housing and having a job that pays enough on minimum wage to support a family (regardless of a person's training or skills). Do you agree?

What kind of "freebie" will be given away next to secure the loyalty of Democrat voters from here on?

Folks, it's time to get involved and put a stop to this nonsense.

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SECOND, the tax to cover Detroit’s mismanagement:

From my buddy Rod:

Another property tax scam is on its way.  When we keep losing elections, these are the results we can expect.  Oakland property owners will be forced to pay more taxes on our homes for more museums in the City of Detroit.  Museums that few, if any, will ever visit.

Wouldn't it be fair if those who wished to visit simply paid an entrance fee?  Why should poor people, or anyone, be forced to pay to stay in their homes for the benefit of an entitled few in another county and city?  Please note that they specifically targeted us in Oakland County.  Are we naive?  Gullible? Uncaring?

from Crain's Business Magazine:

LANSING — State lawmakers on Tuesday began passing legislation that would authorize the potential approval of new property taxes in Wayne and Oakland counties to help fund three Detroit-owned museums.

The measure, House Bill 4177, would let a county create a history museum authority and levy a tax of up to 0.4 mills for as many as 20 years to provide funding for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Detroit Historical Society, which operates the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle if the county's voters approve the increase.

A taxpayer with a $300,000 house and a state-equalized value of $150,000 would pay $60 more in taxes per year with a millage of that size.

The bill is modeled after laws that enabled the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute of Arts to secure operating millages. Those taxes are assessed in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. The historical museums intend to ask Wayne and Oakland commissioners, but not Macomb County's, to put the levy on the ballot if the legislation is enacted.

The Democratic-led House Regulatory Reform Committee voted 9-1 to advance the legislation to the House. All nine Democrats voted yes. One Republican, Rep. Mike Mueller of Linden, voted no. Five Republicans abstained.

"North Oakland County doesn't want to pay for a tax for something that they don't use. ... I don't necessarily disagree with the museums and I think it's a good for the community, but in this instance, I'm putting the constituents above my own beliefs," said Mueller, whose district includes the village of Holly and Holly and Rose townships.

The bill sponsor, Democratic Rep. Tyrone Carter of Detroit, who chairs the panel, said "there are some places in the tri-county area that are just still anti-Detroit." While many residents have not been to places like the Detroit Historical Museum, he said, the museums are "real gems" in a city that has more to offer than just pro sports and "we also have to create an opportunity for others to model" the region's efforts to help the DIA and the zoo.

He noted that the Legislature has awarded earmarks to the Charles H. Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Society under both Democratic and Republican control, "but at some point we have to do things differently."

Neil Barclay, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum, has said it is the nation's oldest encyclopedic museum of African American history and was the largest until the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016 in Washington, D.C.

"This is an important asset not just for Michigan but for the country," he told the legislative committee last week. "We continue to serve not only our regional, local Detroit audience but a regional, a national and an international audience."

The museum faces $25 million in deferred maintenance, Barclay said.

"It is 35,000 artifacts, some important aspects of African American history and culture — by extension the culture and history of all Americans," he said. "This is a time when we feel it is necessary to ensure that this legacy is not only able to be seen and enjoyed by our present-day citizens but where we preserve it for generations to come."

Detroit Historical Society President and CEO Elana Rugh said it is an "existential time" for the 102-year-old entity. It had $4.6 million in revenue and $5.5 million in expenses in the 2021-22 fiscal year, according to its annual report.

"Our institution has been underfunded for decades," she said, adding that the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum buildings are 72 and 63 years old, respectively. Some 300,000 artifacts are stored in a World War II-era "bunker" at Historic Fort Wayne, she said.

"We face major challenges," Rugh said. "We have depleted reserves, critical deferred maintenances and significant collection-conservation challenges. ... We think that when we put our world-class cultural assets, the Charles Wright, the Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, on equal footing with our region's other tremendous institutions, we're going to enhance the importance and competitiveness of the state of Michigan in the eyes of the nation and the world."

A similar measure was passed by a Senate committee in 2021 but did not advance. The latest bill would allow for the creation of an authority to govern a history museum, which is defined as one whose primary collection and facility are owned by a city with a population of more than 500,000. Detroit is the only Michigan city with that many residents.

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In the mean time, the politicians don’t think of our aging population on fixed incomes being taxed out of their homes …